Alaric

As Yuuta and Alaric walked through the dense forest, the silence between them was punctuated only by the sounds of snapping twigs and the rustle of leaves underfoot. Yuuta glanced back at the boy every now and then, noticing how he kept his distance, his gaze downcast but sharp. Something about Alaric's demeanor kept gnawing at Yuuta's mind.

"So, Alaric," Yuuta started, breaking the silence, "where've you been staying? Out here in the woods alone for long?"

Alaric hesitated before responding, his voice flat. "For a while." He didn't offer any more details, and Yuuta didn't push—at least not yet.

Yuuta hummed, deciding to ease in with more questions. "You learn how to make a fire yourself, or did someone show you? Not many kids your age know how to do that."

Alaric shrugged, his gaze still fixed ahead. "I figured it out. It's not that hard to be honest."

Yuuta raised an eyebrow. The kid wasn't forthcoming, but he couldn't blame him. Orphans had it tough, and trust was hard to come by. Still, he was curious about this boy, more than he'd care to admit.

"You any good with a bow? Or an axe?" He asked, shifting the conversation to something practical. If the boy was surviving out here, he had to have some skills.

Alaric shook his head. "I don't use those."

Yuuta frowned but kept walking, pondering the boy's vague responses. After a few more minutes of quiet, they reached Yuuta's campsite, a small clearing near a stream where he'd set up his temporary shelter. The sun was still climbing in the sky, casting long shadows through the trees.

"Take a seat," Yuuta said, gesturing to a log near the fire pit. Alaric sat down, his body stiff, his eyes wandering across the camp as if searching for something, anything to latch onto.

He busied himself with stoking the fire, letting the boy settle. He figured Alaric wasn't much of a talker, but he still felt a nagging need to get to know him better. Maybe it was the father in him—the same instincts that had helped him raise Mikasa with care and attention. Leaving a child out here in the wilderness didn't sit right with him.

After a while, Yuuta spoke again. "We're going to need more food if you're sticking around for a bit. How about we go hunt something decent? Beats sitting here doing nothing, don't worry you only have to carry a few stuff."

Alaric gave a small nod, standing up without a word. Together, they set off into the woods again, the tension between them lingering. As they walked, Yuuta took the chance to ask more questions.

"Ever hunted before, Alaric?"

"Not like you do," the boy replied simply.

Yuut noticed Alaric was answering, but only in clipped sentences, offering as little as possible. "You've been out here a while, though. Must've picked up some tricks. How've you been feeding yourself?"

Alaric paused, his expression unreadable. "I manage."

Yuuta didn't pry any further, sensing that this line of questioning wouldn't get him anywhere. They continued in silence for a while, tracking the faint signs of game through the underbrush. After a few hours, they managed to bring down a couple of hares and a small deer. He was impressed by how quietly Alaric moved—too quiet for a boy his age, he thought.

As they gathered the animals, he broke the silence again. "You know, I've got a family. A little girl about your age. Her name's Mikasa. If you want, you could come back with me, meet her, and maybe stay for a bit."

Alaric stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening as if he had heard something he shouldn't have, eyes narrowing slightly. "Why?"

Yuuta scratched the back of his neck, choosing his words carefully. "I don't like the idea of leaving a kid alone out here. The world's a dangerous place, even more so outside the walls. You seem capable, but... it's not right. You should be around people who can help you."

Alaric was quiet for a moment, staring at the ground. Yuuta could see the conflict in his eyes, the way the boy tensed up at the idea of being around others. He wondered just how much this kid had been through.

"I'm not asking for anything in return," he added, his voice softening. "I just don't have the heart to leave you out here on your own. My home's not far, and it's warm. Safer, too."

Alaric seemed to weigh the offer for a long moment before finally giving a small nod. "I'll... think about it."

Yuuta let out a small sigh of relief, though he kept it to himself. He could tell that Alaric wasn't an ordinary kid—there was a hardness to him, something darker lurking just beneath the surface. But whatever it was, he couldn't ignore the fact that he was just a child.

As they made their way back to camp with the fresh game, Yuuta's mind drifted to Mikasa and Kurumi. If this boy came with him, he'd be stepping into a new life, one that he hoped could give him some semblance of normalcy.

But something told him that normal wasn't in the cards for Alaric.

As Yuuta led Alaric through the forest, he glanced over occasionally, noting the boy's watchful, almost guarded expression. Despite his youth, Alaric moved with an unusual grace and awareness. He couldn't quite shake the impression that this kid had been through more than any child should.

"So, Alaric," he began casually, trying to break the silence, "you always this quiet?"

Alaric seemed to consider his answer, his eyes momentarily flickering up to meet his. "Not much to say," he replied, his voice low but calm.

Yuuta chuckled. "Fair enough. But I noticed earlier—you're pretty strong. Managed to drag that deer on your own, and most kids would've struggled with that, even some adults."

Alaric shrugged, looking unbothered. "Just something I picked up. Helps with... surviving."

Yuuta raised an eyebrow but chose not to press too much. The boy was tough, no doubt about that. "Surviving, huh? Well, you seem to be doing a good job of it. But don't you ever get lonely out there, on your own?"

There was a slight pause before Alaric answered. "Sometimes," he admitted, though his tone was indifferent. "Guess I got used to it."

He sighed, sensing the walls the boy had built around himself. "Well, I can't promise we're as exciting as whatever you've been doing, and there's always company. And my daughter Mikasa's about your age—might be nice for you to be around someone close."

Alaric didn't respond right away, and he wondered if he'd said too much. But then Alaric looked up, a slight interest flickering in his gaze. "She… likes it here?" he asked, his voice just barely softening.

Yuuta nodded. "Yeah, she's always been curious, watches everything around her. She's still got that innocent wonder, you know?" He smiled, thinking of Mikasa's boundless curiosity. "She's got a way of seeing things, even things that most people overlook. Maybe she'll show you her perspective."

Alaric's expression was unreadable as he absorbed that, but he gave a slow nod. They walked in silence for a while, the sounds of birds and rustling leaves filling the air as they neared the edge of the forest.

After a few more turns through familiar paths, he finally led them into a small clearing, where his modest home came into view. Alaric stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze darting across the clearing with a look of unease.

Yuuta noticed, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought. The boy was on edge again, his posture tense. He took a breath, deciding to approach the topic with care. "You look a bit uneasy. It's just my home, no surprises here."

Alaric blinked, shaking off his tension and giving a quick nod, though he didn't meet Yuuta's eyes. "Sorry. Just… not used to it."

He decided to drop it, respecting the boy's boundaries. "Well, come on. Let's get inside, grab a drink, and you can meet Mikasa. She'll be excited to see a new face around here." He gestured toward the doorway, and after a moment's hesitation, Alaric followed him.

He could still feel the boy's unease, like a shadow that clung to him, but he held his questions back. This would take time. For now, he'd simply offer the boy warmth, shelter, and a taste of family life.